Zombie march to parade undead on Easter Sunday

Auditi Guha

Tuesday

Mar 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMMar 24, 2009 at 1:36 AM

Every year hoards of the undead in Somerville and Cambridge and hiss and moan their way through public streets in a fun march. The problem is that Zombie Outbreak 2009 has been scheduled to coincide with the day Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

Every year hoards of the undead in Somerville and Cambridge and hiss and moan their way through public streets in a fun march. The problem is that Zombie Outbreak 2009 has been scheduled to coincide with the day Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

But there is nothing heavenly about the blood-dripping, brain-hungry zombies’ march. On April 12, as parishioners leave church services, another kind of mass will lurch to Harvard Square from Davis Square at noon, according to event fliers and a Facebook event page. One of their fliers even advertise the event as “Celebrate the Resurrection: Easter Zombie Walk”.

That’s uncool and might hurt religious sentiments, say some on the Facebook page, urging the organizers to change the date. Others threaten not to take part in the annual trolling if it’s on Easter.

“Any other day and I’d do it. I’m not even a Christian, but the thought of walking past multiple churches as a zombie on Easter Sunday just doesn’t feel right,” Brian Rust wrote on the Facebook page.

Gene Atwood responded saying, “I barely know what Easter is, besides some type of rabbit and magical rabbit egg holiday. I don't think there are really any mean-spirited intentions involved in this, this isn't some kind of weird anti-Christian march, just a bunch of people having fun!”

While the zombie march has never gone without its fair share of protesters, local religious leaders seem far more accepting.

Pastor Victor Scalise from the Somerville Community Baptist Church near Davis Square said he doesn’t think it should be a problem, citing the fundamental right to free expression.

“In America we have a right to do what we want,” he said. “As an American Baptist pastor, one of the fundamental tenets of our faith is religious freedom. People can choose whatever they want to do on Easter Sunday but we will celebrate Easter and rejoice in the season.”

The Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church will have two services on Easter Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Pastor Scott Campbell, who has seen the zombies march by the Harvard Square church in previous years, guesses it will not coincide with one of them but is not too concerned either.

“I think the timing is a little insensitive but I don’t think the world is going to end as a result,” he said. “There are a lot of things to be concerned about these days, (the zombie march) would be way down on my list.”

Two years ago, the event took place in Somerville and Cambridge on Saturday, May 12 and a counter-protest of the living followed the zombies in Davis Square. (last year's event was held in South Station, Boston). Carrying signs bearing anti-zombie slogans like “It’s Adam and Eve not Adam and Arrrgh” and “Brains are for thinking, not for eating,” a small group jokingly tried to keep the zombies back.

Some were so passionate about zombies and their rights to march that they came dressed as members of Somerville’s Zombie Task Force. “The Zombie Task Force refuses to represent you if you eat people’s brains… unless they authorize you,” a task force member warned a zombie that was getting too close to protesters in 2008.

Wicked Local Somerville

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.